Bunner Sisters

atively proffered remedies, and seemed to shrink from anyprolonged investigation of his symptoms. July had come, with asudden ardour of heat, and one evening, as the three sat togetherby th

wouldn't it be lovely?""I always think it's real cool here--w

e," hersister snapped: she was not infrequently exaspera

chanted Evelina. He had gone the day before to see his friend,

following Sunday he shouldbring the Bu

Ramy explained, "widtrees and a real summer

n Eliza. She was stilloppressed by the recollection of her interminable Sunday in thePa

other, till at length Mr. Ramy pulled theconductor's sleeve and they got out again; then they stood in theblazing sun, near the door of a crowded beer-saloon, waiting foranother car to come; and that carried them out to a thinly settleddistrict, past vacant lots and narrow brick houses standingin unsupported solitude, till they finally

lytra andday-lilies bloomed behind the paling, and a cr

n a mountainouswhite featherbed the cashmere mantles under which the solemnity ofthe occasion had compelled them to swelter, and when they had giventheir black silks the necessary twitch of readjustment, and Evelinahad fluffed out her hair before a looking-glass framed in pink-shell work, their hostess led them to a stuffy parlour smelling ofgingerbread. Afte

amiliar, and it was only when Ann Eliza picturedher generous form bent above his sick-bed that she could forgiveher for tersely addressing him as "Ramy." During one of the pausesof the meal Mrs. Hochmull

ugh, her eyesstill on the clock-maker. "Ain't you ashamed of yourself, Ramy?"Mr. Ramy, who was looking at his plate, said suddenly one wordwhich the sisters could not understand; it sounded to Ann Elizalike "Shwike."Mrs. Hochmuller laughed again. "My, my,

n old well, and from tree to tree ran the network ofclothes-line that denoted Mrs. Hochmuller's calling. Beyond theapple trees stood a yellow summer-house festooned with scarletrunners; and below it, on the farther side of a rough fence, theland dipped down, holding

e and back, she tossed crumbs to the chickens anddisturbed the cat with a

o go round by the ro

Mr. Ramy; and guided by Linda the pairwalked along the fence till they reached a narrow gap in itsboards. Through this they disappea

ked at her guest with

herdouble chin toward the gap in the fence. "Folks like dat do

uld think of n

a great lot of him, don't

y: where'd I get a drying-ground like dis inHobucken? And den it's safer for Linda too; it geeps her outer destreets.""Oh," said Ann Eliza, shrinking. She began to feel a distinctaversion for her hostess, and her eyes turned with involuntaryannoyance to the square-backed form of Linda, still inquisitivelysu

n Eliza, rising at her approach, said stiffly: "We'dbetter be getting ho

they found themselvesagain on the ferry-boat. Water and sky were grey, with a dividinggleam of sunset that sent sleek opal waves in the boat's wake. Thewind had a cool tarry

mind that Mr. Ramy had proposed to Evelina in the wood,and she was sil

and aftersupper, when she had laid aside her silk dress and the forget-me-not bonnet, she remained silently seate

n the door opened and Mr. Ramy entered. He had never beforecalled a

sked, pushing aside thebasketful

rdays at this season, so Ithought I might as well call round and see you.""I'm real glad, I'm sure

Ann Eliza looked at him with rising bewilderment. "No, Iguess not," she answered; her instinctive hospitality prompting herto add:

ve the store,"

as looking at her withunusual intentness. Involuntarily her hand strayed to the thinstreak

y, Miss Bunner," said Mr. Ramy,fo

ervously. "I'm always we

Oh, I don't know. Evelina's a mite nervous sometimes, butshe ain't a bit sick

d she did not care to commit herself farther aboutEvelina before she had

pared her all fa

n Eliza, in many a prayerful midnight hour, had sought tostrengthen herself for the hearing of this avowal, but now that ithad come she felt pitifully frightened and unprep

me, Mr. Ramy!""I want to get married," he repeated. "I'm too lonesome. Itain't good for a

he dust--I know!"Mr. Ramy stretched one

seat, pushing aside the basket of buttons which laybetween them; then she perceived that M

nd all possible forgetting, could sherecall what he said while their hands touched; she onl

me?" sh

ner. Dat's the truth."A woman passing along the street paused to look at the shop-window

Mr. Ramy suggested,discounte

as on her tongue, bu

some other way

amy continued, eased of his momentary doubt. "I always likedde quiet style--no fuss and

ked at her in surprise. "Why not?""Well, I don't know, har'ly." She moistened her twitchinglips. "The fact is, I ain't as act

work here, anyways," sa

n the work don't amount to much. Besides, I'mthe oldest; I have to look after thin

're active enough fo

o frighten her; she trembled les

tears on her lashes. "Icouldn't, Mr. R

ybodyelse. She's so bright and pretty--it seemed so natura

"He rose, pushin

he said, in the large tone of am

ry. I get tired so easily--I'd be afraid of thework. And I have such awful

you?" said Mr. Ra

ones, that I have

verything when I have

n the mornings.""Well, I'm sor

murmured. "Andplease don't--don't--" She stop

nner. Folks have got to suit themselves." She thought his tone

nversation; and atlength she found courage to say (in the words of a novel she hadonce read): "I don't w

iss you awfully if you didn't. Evelina,she--" She paused, torn between her desire to t

have no headaches?"

or ages, and when Evelina IS sick she won't never givein to it," An

ve thought that,

did.""Well, no, that's so; maybe I don't. I'll wish you

r. Ramy," Ann

len below her own ideals. It had been a wonderfulexperience; and in spite of the tears on her cheeks she was notsorry to have known

ext hour in a stat

he same rich sense ofpossessorship that once, as a little girl, she had felt when hermother had given her

. But her fears were superfluous. Evelina, always self-absorbed, had of late lost all interest in the simple happenings ofthe shop, and Ann Eliza, with mingled mortification and relief,perceived that she was in no danger of being cross-questioned as tothe ev